PM Orbán: Budapest is a global sports capital

PM Orbán pointed out that Budapest has all the features and capabilities to claim the title of a global sports capital: its geographical location, its beauty, its economic development, the hospitability of the people living here, its vivid cultural life, its strong services sector, but above all the safety of the city

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has pointed out that Budapest is now a global sports capital following a host of successful sporting events.

The prime minister made the remark following a meeting with Nenad Lalovic, President of United World Wrestling in the Parliament Building on Friday.

According to sources, the pair discussed the World Wrestling Championships currently under way in Budapest, the new-generation World Urban Games and other world-level sports events planned to be held in the Hungarian capital.

At the meeting, which was also attended by Balázs Fürjes, government commissioner for priority Budapest developments and international sports bids, and Szilárd Németh, President of the Hungarian Wrestling Federation, the parties highlighted that the Hungarian capital is hosting the world wrestling championships for the seventh time.

PM Orbán pointed out that Budapest has all the features and capabilities to claim the title of a global sports capital: its geographical location, its beauty, its economic development, the hospitability of the people living here, its vivid cultural life, its strong services sector, but above all the safety of the city. He added that the development of Budapest’s sports infrastructure is ongoing.

Next year, Hungary will organize four world championships – table tennis, fencing, pentathlon and kayak-canoe sprint – and additionally in 2019 Budapest will have the honor of bearing the title European Capital of Sport awarded by the European Union.

Bertalan Havasi, the Prime Minister’s press chief, revealed that the prime minister is committed to hosting the 2019 World Urban Games in Budapest which is a kind of “youthful sports festival in the heart of the city”, and features disciplines such as BMX freestyle cycling, inline skating, skateboarding, 3x3 basketball, teqball and breakdancing.